We felt just as comfortable at slower
speeds and when sitting down. The
IRS retains nearly a foot of ground
clearance and can glide over obstacles without getting hung up.

KODIAK

For the all-new Kodiak we installed

The new Grizzly and this Kodiak work
great in stock trim. The Elkas bring the
Yamahas to the next level.

Elka’s Stage 4’s. These shocks featurethreaded preload and compressiononly. There is a rebound option, butthat does cost another $150 a pair. Theway these are equipped, they sell for$750 a pair. Again, we had to removethe plastic CV boot guards to accessthe shock bolts, but all four shocksinstalled very easily. The Stage 4’s areequipped with a small piggyback res-ervoir that hold the low-speed com-pression adjuster. We played with theadjusters a little more on the Kodiakand made it much better than stock.We like to ride this quad even in stocktrim, but the Elkas take it to a wholeother level. Now we can jump the littleutility or slam rocks and roots evenharder. Drop-off ledges with flat land-ings can be tackled with relative ease.

THOUGHTS

Spending an extra two grand on
shocks might seem like a big expense
after spending $8000–$10,000 on the
machine itself. If you haven’t tried
them, aftermarket shocks make a big
difference and can last much longer than the stockers, plus they are
way easier to rebuild or re-valve if
needed. They may not be the perfect
investment for everyone, but they will
provide a big difference for anyone
who tries them.

To order your set of shocks for
your ride, contact Elka Suspension at
www.elkasuspension.com or call (800)
557-0552. ❏